Half Way Point

I have managed to make it just over two months. I have survived 20 sessions with my trainer, and just signed up for even more! I am happy that I chose to get a personal trainer. Yes, it is expensive and I truly can’t afford it, but I am making it work. As I have said before, this is an investment, one with myself that I can’t afford not to.

I won’t lie, it has been a frustrating ride. The first workout session was gruesome. Ugh, I didn’t realize how bad I let my muscles deteriorate. In the end, I was left feeling like a limp noodle, stuck at the bottom of the pot… and surprisingly I got the “high”. You know, the kind they talk about with runners. And unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Apparently, you only get one, or at least that is what I got. The following Thursday session… Nothing. Nada tostada! Just felt exhausted and run down.

I also realized that my asthma was worse than I thought. Even though my mom and brother have been dealing with it for decades, I wasn’t diagnosed with asthma until a few years ago. After my first two sessions with the trainer, I had to do something about the lack of breathing and went to see my doctor. I was having such a hard time breathing and even a day later, felt like someone had taken a scrub brush and shoved it down my throat; inflammation central! We are currently on the third trial of a new every day inhaler along with an asthma/allergy pill, Singulair. What we have done has helped, but I am still doing at least four puffs from my emergency inhaler during my hour-long session. By the way, if you are looking for an awesome Allergy, Asthma, and Immunologist – Dr. Fieman is fabulous!

As for the weight… I have only lost a few pounds here and there. That’s it! Disappointing to say the least. I had it in my head that when I changed my diet and introduced intense exercise, the pounds would just melt off. So much for the 50 in 5… but I still have time. I wish I would have taken my measurements before starting so I could see if there was a change there. There has been muscle growth as I can feel the difference when lifting weights, but I am not sure of how much. Based on old clothes that I can fit back into, I would say I have lost about 10 inches; 3.5 in the waist, 1.25 in each arm, and 2 in each thigh.

With the lack of weight loss, I am working on not drinking all together. While I was still incorporating those calories into my food tracker, I know it is hindering my weight loss. So… bye bye glass of wine after work… hello tea! My therapist and I figured out that I have been using alcohol to relax and come down from the stress of the work day. Even when I have taken time out to meditate in the middle of the day, it wasn’t enough. I stopped buying wine for the house, but would still find myself stopping by the bar on the way home for a drink to chill out for a bit. It is also a good habit for when I (hopefully) become pregnant. While the tea helps as something to sip on, I have found that listening to my current my audio book and laying down in bed with the lights off works better.

To wrap this up, I thought I would share some of the things that I have learned since starting this whole 50 in 5 thing.

Fitness Trainers are awesome! Without a trainer, I wouldn’t have the willpower to push myself to the point of muscle exhaustion. I would have quit 2/3 of the way through; each day and each time

Don’t forget your sunglasses! It may be 5:30AM when you get to the gym, but when you leave, the sun is up and blinding you in the eyes

Best feeling in the world? Getting into the car, resting my hot sweaty body on the cool leather seats. Just a little sigh of relief after some hard work

An even better feeling? Walking into work, knowing I have already kicked some ass today, and it isn’t even 9:00AM

It is hard not to let my depression take a hold of me and stop me from going to my bi-weekly sessions

After 35, 30, or even 25 years of age, your body doesn’t respond/ function the same way it used to

~Side note: thanks to the TimeHop App, I have noticed the pattern of doing this weight gain/weight loss every year around the same time. The only difference was I never was this heavy and always able to shed the 15-20 pounds and get back down to 130 pounds

I am ready to step up my game. No more “cheat” days that turn into cheat weeks. I need to stay with my strict meal plan and keep making every meal. Meal prep SUCKS but makes such a difference – when I sneak in the meals out or sugary treat(s), my body shows it and feels it.
Since I am able to breathe and my strength has increased, I know my body and mind can do more. So besides my two workout sessions with my trainer, I am adding on two classes over the weekend. I am thinking the Ballet Sculpt and yoga (not hot yoga, I would die). Maybe a Zumba class too? I will try a month of these changes – hope the changes will make a more dramatic difference which would help inspire me to keep going. I will write again in a month with an update – and measurements! Cheers.